It's my Birthday & I Celebrated! Lots of photos, food and fun! Updated 9/23

[Belle Ella]

Aw, I really love Peter Pan! It's the hardest part about no longer having MM. Every now and again I try to hit it on a regular opening morning first thing so I can get ahead of the long lines again.

 

[smile4stamps]

From Alice and Wonderland I headed to the Storybook Canal Boats. The line was pretty short and since it often has quite a line I thought I would take advantage. When I got in line I was behind a large group. They would all need their own boat. The boat in front of theirs had room but the CM never asked if there was a group of one or two or else I could have gone sooner. As it was I got to the front of the line and they almost didn't let me on with the larger group until I said I was by myself.

I know I have shared a bunch of pics already of Storbookland but here is a bunch more!

After visiting the stories I took some pictures around Fantasyland.

I continued taking pictures as I ventured from Fantasyland down the Big Thunder Trail...

 

[Belle Ella]

Great update, Paula! I love the Canal Boats but the line is usually too long for me to actually think about doing it. I do really need to get back on the Casey Jr. train someday though. I really want my photo in the monkey car!

 

[smile4stamps]

More pics as I continued along Big Thunder Trail to Fronteirland.

And the pics continued as I reached the Rivers of America...

Some different light fixtures in Frontierland

Heading out of Frontierland to the Hub

Sleepy duckies!

At this point it was a little after 9am and I decided I wanted to head to DCA and see if I could wave my room key from PPH (that no longer worked) and be able to ride the little Mermaid as if I was still a DLR hotel Guest.

So I took myself across the esplanade, in the gates and to the Little Mermaid... Where I simply flashed my old room key and in I went!

With no wait I soon found myself traveling "Under the Sea"

Literally traveling "Under the Sea!"

 

[Belle Ella]

Ariel's hair in that last photo scares me, FYI

 

[smile4stamps]

The Little Mermaid continued!

I'm sure you all know what is next... RIGHT!!!

Toy Story of Course!!!

I joined the masses waiting for the Rope Drop at the bridge at at 10am I tried to walk as fast as I could to TSMM. Unfortunatly I ended up kinda far back and ended up with probably a 20 minute wait.

I did pretty decent this time (for me!)

And!

Coming out from TSMM I noticed this Newstand for the first time...

And then I headed to California Screamin! I think I rode it twice single rider before the Single Rider line was even getting kinda long!

From there I decided I wanted to head back to Disneyland!

 

[smile4stamps]

Aw, I really love Peter Pan! It's the hardest part about no longer having MM. Every now and again I try to hit it on a regular opening morning first thing so I can get ahead of the long lines again.

It is where I go on non-MM days!! I'm hoping to be able to ride it during the Halloween Party as well!

Great update, Paula! I love the Canal Boats but the line is usually too long for me to actually think about doing it. I do really need to get back on the Casey Jr. train someday though. I really want my photo in the monkey car!

The canal boats are awesome. I have 2 goals for them. 1) Ride them in daylight without trying to take pictures. 2) Ride them at night!!

Ariel's hair in that last photo scares me, FYI

You caught me again in-between updates!

Ha-Ha... I always think she looks like she is trying to scratch her back!!

 

[JH87]

Great pictures of the little mermaid ride!

 

[smile4stamps]

Great pictures of the little mermaid ride!

Thanks Jillian!

 

[smile4stamps]

I was leaving the Paradise Pier area and heading towards Disneyland. I thought I would take some pictures of the walls that were so dominant around DCA.

Those pics were taken where the 2 new restaurants are now open and in front of Goofy's Sky School. I thought I was mostly out from the walls and was heading towards the front of the park and past a Bugs Land when I saw this!

Yes... The walkway that I had been using for the past week was blocked!! I had to backtrack and go all the way around! As I was heading out I asked a CM if this was temporary or longer lasting. He said it would be this way for a long time and would in fact be getting worse!

So not what I wanted to hear! I know it will all be better in the end but it was already bad in June.. I can't imagine what it is like now!

So I finally made it out of DCA and back into DL when I saw this car going down Main Street!

I stopped here to take a picture of the wait times!

All a little bit longer than I like to wait in!!

A picture of the crowds at that time...

So I turned around and saw Mickey!!

And his band!

After the performance it was time to go find something else to do... It was getting a little bit warm so for me the natural thing is to venture towards Splash Mountain.

I did stop to get a BTMRR FP and found 3 of the FP machines with this sign!

It actually took a few tries for my AP to work to give me the FP... It kept not spitting anything out!

With that FP in hand I continued on my way to Critter Country.. The crowds were getting to be pretty thick! I figured Single Rider Splash Mountain and then I would get some lunch! That was so much easier said than done! AS I was about to head in the Exit of Splash to get in the SR line a CM stopped me and said that there were quite a few people inside already and I needed to wait outside. I figured it would just be a few minutes and in I would go...



Waiting... Waiting.... Waiting.... Um... how can there still be people waiting!?!?

Finally we are allowed in! There was about 10 people in front of me when I got in there and I was on the ride withing minutes!! I have a feeling people were getting off the ride and right back in line without exciting so those of us waiting outside really got the short end of the stick!!

As always though I enjoyed my ride! But not that wait!!

Finally it was time to get something to eat! I had a place in mind! The Hungry Bear! I had never eaten here before and had been hearing wonderful things about it so I wanted to give it a try! My biggest decision was which side to get! I couldn't decide so ended up with TWO!

Unfortunately I had to wait quite awhile to even order! I guess I picked the wrong time for lunch as well!

When it was Finally time to order I went with the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich along with Onion Rings and Sweet Potato Fries!

In ranking how I liked the items I would rank the Onion Rings first! The Sweet Potato Fried second and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich dead last! That sandwich was SO dry it was almost unpalatable! I think it was probably just an off day as all the reviews are great but this was not enjoyable. I will probably give it another try sometime but not anytime soon!

 

[Belle Ella]

Still never eaten at the Hungry Bear. But at least if I haven't before February the Diva trip will take care of that.

Great updated Paula.

 

[smile4stamps]

The day was quite warm and I felt the need to cool down. Splash Mountain wasn't a go as I didn't want to wait forever to try and get on so I headed to my other favorite water ride.

The wait time board mid-afternoon!

At this point I was SO HAPPY Kim had been with me the previous week! I can't imagine we would have been able to get near as much done this week as we had last weekend.

Some pictures as I headed back down Main Street!

I liked the look of this train from the back!

I re-entered DCA and headed towards Grizzly River Rapids... where I rode it 3 times in a row Single Rider!!! I was SOAKED!!!

Being soaked and not wanting to do anything else over in DCA I headed back over to Disneyland!

I found myself a spot on "the Front Porch" to sit, relax, people watch... AND DRY OUT!

There was some entertainment across the street.

Having dried out some and it still being HOT and CROWDED I headed to my standby ride....

The Railroad!

First I had to get to a station though so there are some more pictures as I head there...

 

[Belle Ella]

Keep the updates coming, Paula!

Depending on what the weather is like next week you may need to get me on GRR for the first time. Sound like a plan?

 

[jandm]

Our first character sighting was Rafiki!! I snapped this picture as he walked right past us!

It was okay that he walked right by though as we hadn't grabbed any food yet and we were kinda hungry!

Once we had our food he stopped back by

And used our heads as his table...

Remember that wall I mentioned we were seated next to? The characters loved it!

They also LOVED my friends hair!

Pluto finally came around to our side...

Pluto showed off his Artistic side...

Next up was Captain Hook!

He did not like my friends Pen and refused to use it! Her pen as Tinkerbell!

Followed by Princess Jasmine

We informed Jasmine that our Princes were back home. She asked if they were back in Agraba and we agreed lol.

And some more Pluto!

Finally our last visitor as we were finishing up was the Fairy Godmother.

When she approached me she saw that I did not have a name on my Birthday Button. She asked why not and I said that they did not have a Sharpie at the front so I would need to find one later. She then proceeded to pull a sharpie out of her outfit as if it were her wand!

And Ta-Da.. my button now had my name!

My thoughts on this character meal.... The character interaction was great! I only captured a few of the photos but we had a lot of fun with the characters. They were very interactive with us!

The food. It was good. I felt that it was not very hot but I think part of that is the fact that we were concentrating on the characters and not wanting to miss them so our food cooled down as it sat on our plates. Most of the food had good flavor. We were definitely happy with the food and characters this time around! I was happy we had started out our trip here!

Great pictures!! Is it always those characters at Goofy's Kitchen? My kids would love to see Rafiki & Cap't Hook! Also, how were the crowds when you were there in June? We are looking at the first week in June for our trip. Thx for any tips!

 

[smile4stamps]

Keep the updates coming, Paula!

Depending on what the weather is like next week you may need to get me on GRR for the first time. Sound like a plan?

It's definitely a plan!! Is that the last thing you haven't ridden?

Great pictures!! Is it always those characters at Goofy's Kitchen? My kids would love to see Rafiki & Cap't Hook! Also, how were the crowds when you were there in June? We are looking at the first week in June for our trip. Thx for any tips!

Thank You!

The characters are ALWAYS different at Goofy's... The only ones consistent were Goofy and Pluto! I've seen Rafiki and Cap't Hook both at Minnie & Friends as well.

the crowds the first week I was there were not too bad. The second week was VERY Crowded! I was not liking that very much! I would definitely go the first week again though.

 

[Belle Ella]

It's definitely a plan!! Is that the last thing you haven't ridden?

Pretty much. There are still a few others in DCA but mostly because I don't spend too much time in DCA t begin with. But it's probably the last 'big' thing I haven't done at least once.

 

[smile4stamps]

Pretty much. There are still a few others in DCA but mostly because I don't spend too much time in DCA t begin with. But it's probably the last 'big' thing I haven't done at least once.

Anything you want to give a try just let me know. I think the only ride I haven't yet done is Goofy's Sky School as it was not open yet when I was there.

 

[mommaU4]

Ha-Ha... I always think she looks like she is trying to scratch her back!!

In ranking how I liked the items I would rank the Onion Rings first! The Sweet Potato Fried second and the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich dead last! That sandwich was SO dry it was almost unpalatable! I think it was probably just an off day as all the reviews are great but this was not enjoyable. I will probably give it another try sometime but not anytime soon!

I am so eager to try that sandwich!! I really hope it's good.




I am loving your report, Paula! The pics of you with Rafiki are great! lol

 

[Belle Ella]

Anything you want to give a try just let me know. I think the only ride I haven't yet done is Goofy's Sky School as it was not open yet when I was there.

Have fun on that one without me if you want to try it. I've been on those crazy mouse type ride things and I am 100% sure I am not a fan of that, lol. I suppose I also haven't been on Mickey's Fun Wheel (of death), but again I don't really want to, lol.

 

[kaoden39]

Looks wonderful Paula!!